Arty ashtrays are sure to be a gas

FUNCTIONAL art is coming to a select number of Dublin pubs.

Inspired by the ban on smoking in public places, a group of artists have created unique ashtrays made from recycled Flogas cylinders.

Last night the 24 artists involved in the Eek “Moocher” project launched their 19 unique creations at an exhibition at Filmbase, Temple Bar.

“The aim is that these receptacles will be a more environmentally friendly, aesthetically pleasing alternative to the sterile fixtures already outside many of Dublin’s buildings,” said Eek director Aaron Copeland. “The intention is to move art, not advertising, into the many new public spaces that have appeared around Dublin as a result of the smoking ban.”

From today, the eye-catching ashtrays will cut a swathe through the southside of the city, from Temple Bar through George’s Street to Camden Street.

“Flogas were very generous in donating the gas cylinders and they degassed and decommissioned them before the artists got to work,” said Mr Copeland, who teaches English and Classical Studies at a Dublin college. “One artist, Genevieve McGill, cut up her gas cylinder to give the impression of an object about to explode. She’s part of another group called Rant who have an exhibition coming up in Serbia.”

The transformed ashtrays, called moochers, will be firmly anchored at their designated places to ensure they don’t wander off aimlessly - or get nicked.

The intention is to photograph the arty ashtrays and then feature both the ashtrays and the photographs in an exhibition.